Committee recommends no change to open skies

The Isle of Man's open skies policy is the best option to maintain regular air services - for now.

That's the conclusion of a Tynwald committee set-up to examine the system which allows airlines to compete for routes and passengers. 

But the committee recommends a contingency plan is drawn-up by government to enforce conditions on carriers should it be needed in future. 

After almost a year of deliberation the economic policy review committee recommends no change.

It says the open skies approach, allowing free access to routes to and from the Isle of Man, should be reviewed regularly but not dismantled. 

A concern to protect essential routes to and from the UK lay at the heart of the inquiry.

But after taking evidence from an array of witnesses including the airlines, the chamber of commerce and Travel Watch, the committee's concluded tighter regulation is not the answer.

The report suggests changes to the charging system at Ronaldsway, to safeguard particular routes and timings.

And it calls on government to consider forming a franchise-based airline using leased aircraft, which would allow it to buy landing slots elsewhere.